KOTTAYAM: The police have ceased bullets from a pilgrimage group headed towards Sabarimala on Wednesday, which was also observed as the anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition.

The police found pellets used in air guns from a group of pilgrims during a search of vehicles as part of the heavy security deployed across the state. They took into custody four of the six-member gang that arrived on three bikes.

They are being questioned by the Erattupetta police. They have told the police that they are natives of Palakkad and are hotel employees.

The people taken into custody are Muhammad Nafis, Akhil, Ajith Sankar and Sankar. CI C G Sanalkumar has said that the police is investigating the details of these people.

The gang did not stop of vehicle inspection when they were being waved down by the Melukavu police at Kulathookadavu near Erattupetta. The bike that came first sped off without stopping. The police took off on a chase behind this bike when the other two bikes overtook them and blocked their way, and sped off.

With this, the police became suspicious, and the Melukavu police informed the Erattupetta police. The police eventually barricaded the road near Kulathookadavu and stopped the three bikes, and took the six of them into custody.

The young men told the police that they sped off without stopping as the bike that went in the front didn’t have any valid documents. They also said that their Sabarimala pilgrimage would be interrupted if the police caught the people on the first bike, and hence tried to block the police jeep.

They had also said that they got the pellets from Coimbatore and they just forgot to remove it from their bag. However, the police have not believed their words, and investigation is ongoing.